[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 67983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23723]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE664


Marine Mammals; File No. 20481

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to the 
British Broadcasting Company (BBC) Natural History Unit, 23 Whiteladies 
Road, Bristol BS8 2LR, United Kingdom, commercial and educational 
photography on California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the Permits and Conservation 
Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 
713-0376.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa Gonz[aacute]lez or Jennifer 
Skidmore, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 25, 2016, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (81 FR 48394) that a request for a permit to 
commercial and educational photography on California sea lions had been 
submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been 
issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 20481 authorizes filming California sea lions along the 
California coast and offshore from Point A[ntilde]o Nuevo south to the 
Channel Islands. Up to 1000 California sea lions may be approached for 
filming from land, vessel, and underwater (snorkelers or scuba divers). 
In addition, up to1000 long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) 
and 1000 short-beaked common dolphins (D. delphis) may be incidentally 
harassed and filmed during operations. The permit expires on August 31, 
2017.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: September 27, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23723 Filed 9-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P